B’klyn duo inch closer to return

Cam Thomas and Dennis Smith, Jr. both took part in simulated-game activity after the Nets’ shootaround on Tuesday, with the pair getting closer to returning to the lineup, according to head coach Jacque Vaughn.

Thomas, the Nets’ leading scorer, has been out since Nov. 8 with a sprained left ankle.

Smith missed his fifth straight game with a lower-back sprain Tuesday, but, like Thomas, was able to do some game-type activity Tuesday.

Vaughn added the activity was lighter than it otherwise would have been had the Nets not had a game Tuesday night, but he was encouraged that both were on their way to getting back into the lineup.

“They’re both trending in the direction of hopefully playing with us soon,’’ Vaughn said. “The fact that they both participated is a good sign.”

Thomas, who has appeared in eight games this season, leads the Nets with 26.9 points per game, while Smith is an important part of the team’s defense.

Ben Simmons (lower-back nerve impingement) is expected to be reevaluated this week. He’s only played six games this season.

Cam Johnson

entered Tuesday having dealt with cramping issues in recent games and while Johnson said he wasn’t concerned about them continuing, Vaughn said it was on the Nets’ “radar.”

“We’re cognizant of that,” Vaughn said. “We’re trying to do things behind the scenes to hopefully make sure it doesn’t happen, so they’ll be probably shorter stints and minutes.”

Johnson reported no problems Tuesday, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a 115-103 win in which he played 26:37.

Johnson was limited to 22:04 minutes against the Bulls and has previously dealt with hamstring and calf injuries this season. He played 35-plus minutes in his prior two games before the recent cramping setback.

Day’Ron Sharpe, coming off a season-high in minutes against the Bulls, is averaging a career-high 6.6 rebounds per game. He finished with five points and five rebounds in 15 minutes on Tuesday.

He attributed the improvement to better conditioning in the offseasonand not necessarily a greater focus on that part of his game.

“The only thing I’d say is that I wasn’t in as good shape or my best physical form yet,’’ Sharpe said. “But I feel I always had that since Day 1.”